Optical element, optical scanning apparatus, and image forming apparatus using the optical element, and method  and apparatus for fixedly joining the optical element and reducing deformation of the optical element arranged in a layer structure

ABSTRACT

An optical element including a plurality of reference members formed on a first side surface, and a method and apparatus for fixedly joining the optical element with the first side surface facing down. The method includes providing a surface including a specific position where the optical element is placed, applying an adhesive agent to a predetermined spot within the specific position in which the optical element is placed, placing the optical element therein, causing the optical element to have convex warpage, and curing the adhesive agent. The apparatus includes mechanisms configured to apply an adhesive agent to a predetermined spot within a specific position of a surface on where the optical element is placed, and to place the optical element therein, and first and second light sources configured to cause the optical element to have convex warpage, and to cure the adhesive agent, respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical element, and a method and apparatus for fixedly joining the optical element, and more particularly to an optical element, and a method and apparatus for fixedly joining the optical element capable of reducing deformation of the optical element arranged in a layer structure.

2. Discussion of the Background

In an image forming apparatus using an electrostatic copying method such as a digital copier and a laser printer, a laser beam emitted from a laser light source is polarized by a light deflecting unit to irradiate a previously uniformly charged photoconductor so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor. The electrostatic latent image is developed with toner into a toner image, and the toner image is transferred onto a sheet so that an image is output.

In a case a color image is formed, the image forming apparatus using the electrostatic copying method is configured and controlled as described below. A plurality of photoconductors arranged in a row in a conveyance direction of a sheet are exposed to laser light to form respective latent images on the respective photoconductors. The electrostatic latent images are then developed into toner images in respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) corresponding to the photoconductors. The toner images are transferred onto a sheet so that the toner images are overlaid one after another to finally form a color image. The configuration and control have achieved image forming using a plurality of colors, an increase in image forming speed, and improvement in image quality.

The image forming apparatus having the above configuration and control uses a plurality of optical elements when performing optical scanning to form an electrostatic latent image. Since a large space is required to accommodate the plurality of optical elements, an optical scanning apparatus for performing the optical scanning needs to be enlarged, and the whole image forming apparatus needs to be enlarged, accordingly.

Against the above background, space saving efforts have been made by arranging optical elements such as imaging lenses provided for respective colors into a layer structure.

A background art for arranging the optical elements in a layer structure uses a lens holder for integrally structuring two imaging lenses in a layered arrangement in a sub-scanning direction.

A background method of holding optical elements places a plurality of elongated optical elements one on another with opposite ends supported. One of the optical elements includes a protrusion arranged at a center in a longitudinal direction of the optical element, and the other optical element includes a receiving concavity arranged in a position opposing the protrusion. When the optical elements are placed, the optical elements are positioned by engaging the protrusion with the receiving concavity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This patent specification describes an optical element including a plurality of reference members formed in a cylinder-like shape with a flat top on a first side surface perpendicular to a light incident surface, and a method and apparatus for fixedly joining the optical element. The method includes providing a surface including a specific position on which the optical element is placed, applying an adhesive agent to a predetermined spot within the specific position of the surface on which the optical element is placed, placing the optical element with the first side surface facing down into the specific position of the surface, causing the optical element placed in the specific position to have convex warpage relative to the surface, and curing the adhesive agent. The apparatus includes mechanisms configured to apply an adhesive agent to a predetermined spot within a specific position of a surface on which the optical element is placed, and place the optical element with the first side surface facing down into the specific position of the surface, and first and second light sources configured to cause the optical element placed in the specific position to have convex warpage relative to the surface, and to cure the adhesive agent, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an optical element according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from a first lens surface;

FIG. 2 is another schematic illustration of the optical element in FIG. 1 viewed from a second lens surface;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are schematic illustrations for explaining a method of fixedly joining the optical element according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of steps included in the method of fixedly joining the optical element;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration for explaining spot light positions of UV rays emitted from light sources for a forced deformation of the optical element;

FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of shifts in amounts of the deformation of the optical element;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a general configuration of an apparatus for fixedly joining the optical element;

FIG. 8 is a top view of an optical scanning apparatus having the optical element fixedly joined according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the optical scanning apparatus shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top view of another optical scanning apparatus having the optical element fixedly joined according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the optical scanning apparatus shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a general configuration of an image forming apparatus including the optical scanning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In describing preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, an optical element 115 is described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical element 115 includes a first lens surface 31 a, a second lens surface 31 b, transfer surfaces 32 a and 32 b, bosses 33, flanges 34, mounting reference surfaces 35, outer ribs 36, reference ribs 37, and an incompletely transferred surface 38.

The optical element 115 is formed of a plastic material in an elongated shape having the first lens surface 31 a and the second lens surface 31 b. The second lens surface 31 b is curved so that the optical element 115 has a thicker portion at a center in a longitudinal direction thereof.

The transfer surfaces 32 a and 32 b include flat surfaces arranged at opposite sides extended between the first and second lens surfaces 31 a and 31 b so as to be in parallel to each other in a beam transmission direction. The transfer surface 32 a is provided with three bosses 33 each having a cylindrically protruding shape and a flat top. One of the bosses 33 is formed at a center in a longitudinal direction of the transfer surface 32 a. The other two of the bosses 33 are formed at respective sides in the longitudinal direction of the transfer surface 32 a. The bosses 33 are thereby triangularly positioned and can evenly support a weight of the optical element 115. The transfer surface 32 b includes the incompletely transferred surface 38 having a concave shape in a longitudinal direction thereof, i.e. has a troffer-like-round shape.

The optical element 115 includes the flanges 34 at opposite sides in the longitudinal direction thereof. The mounting reference surfaces 35 are flat surfaces for serving as references upon mounting and are formed on undersides of the flanges 34. The outer ribs 36 are formed on opposite sides in a transversal direction and on opposite sides in a longitudinal direction of the second lens surface 31 b. Further, reference ribs 37 protruding higher than the outer ribs 36 are formed on the both sides in the longitudinal direction of the second lens surface 31 b to improve accuracy in positioning in the longitudinal direction of the optical element 115.

The optical element 115 of the embodiment is formed according to a combination of a background method of injection separation molding and a background method of air-induced sink molding. Specifically, after a resin in a cavity is caused to generate pressure to transfer a transfer surface by the method of injection separation molding, local contraction for releasing is caused against a shape of the captivity to form a recess shape of an incompletely transferred portion. Then, a difference in pressure or air pressure is generated between a mirror surface region corresponding to a mirror surface of a molding material and a vent hole region corresponding to a vent hole to generate sinkage in the vent hole region so that an optical element having a highly accurate lens surface is molded without any distortion inside thereof.

A method of fixedly joining the optical element 115 to a selected one of a housing of an optical scanning apparatus and another optical element according to the embodiment of the present invention is described below referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 4. FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are schematic illustrations for explaining the method of fixedly joining the optical element 115. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of steps included in the method of fixedly joining the optical element 115.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, a light source unit 160 includes a light source 161 for curing an adhesive agent 140, and light sources 162 for forced deforming the optical element 115. The optical element 115 is fixedly joined to a surface of a selected one of a housing 111 of an optical scanning apparatus or another optical element 115 a by using the adhesive agent 140.

When the optical element 115 is fixedly joined to the selected one of the housing 111 of the optical scanning apparatus or the optical element 115 a, at first, the adhesive agent (i.e. UV curing adhesive) 140 is applied to a plurality of spots on the selected one of the housing 111 or the optical element 115 a (step S101). Next, a mounting position of the optical element 115 is determined based on the reference surfaces 35 and the reference ribs 37 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (step S102). Then, irradiation of the optical element 15 with ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted from the light sources 162 for forced deforming the optical element 15 as shown in FIG. 3A is started so that the optical element 115 has convex warpage as shown in FIG. 3B (step S103) relative to the surface of the selected one of the housing 111 or the optical element 115 a. After the irradiation is started, a judgment is made on whether a predetermined amount of time has been elapsed (step S104). When it is judged that the predetermined amount of time has been elapsed (Yes in step S104), irradiation of the optical element 115 with an ultraviolet (UV) ray emitted from the light source 161 for curing the adhesive agent 140 as shown in FIG. 3C is started (step S105). When it is judged that the predetermined amount of time has not been elapsed (No in step S104), the irradiation of the optical element 115 with the ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted from the light sources 162 for forced deforming the optical element 115 is continued. Finally, the irradiation of the optical element 115 with the UV rays emitted from the light sources 161 and 162 is stopped (step S106).

In step S104, although the judgment is made on whether the predetermined amount of time has been elapsed in the embodiment, the judgment instead may be made on whether a predetermined amount of deformation of the convex warpage has occurred in the optical element 115.

Further, although the irradiation of the optical element 115 with the UV rays emitted from the light sources 161 and 162 is stopped in step S106 in the embodiment, the irradiation of the optical element 115 with the UV rays emitted from the light sources 162 may be stopped in step S106 instead, and the irradiation of the optical element 115 with the UV ray emitted from the light source 161 may be stopped at a later step (not shown).

In the embodiment of the present invention, since the optical element 115 includes the three bosses (reference protrusions) each having the cylindrical shape and the flat top, the optical element 115 can have a selected one of convex warpage and concave warpage.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration for explaining spot positions of the UV rays emitted from the light sources 162 for forced deformation of the optical element 115 when the optical element 115 is fixedly joined to the another optical element 115 a, i.e. when the surface on which the optical element is placed is a surface of another optical element 115 a. The optical element 115 includes the first lens surface 31 a, the second lends surface 31 b, and areas 1620. The other optical element 115 a includes a first lens surface 131 a, a second lens surface 131 b, and areas 1610 to which the adhesive agent 140 is applied. The areas 1610 are irradiated with the UV ray for curing the adhesive agent 140. The areas 1620 are irradiated with the UV rays for forced deforming the optical element 115. The areas 1620 are adjacent to an area where most significant warpage occurs by an action of curing and contraction of the adhesive agent 140, and are located in areas where the irradiation does not affect the adhesive agent 140. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the two areas 1620 are adjacent to one of the three areas 1610 which is located in the middle of the first lens surface 131 a in a longitudinal direction thereof so that the convex warpage of the optical element 115 can be stably caused.

The amount of deformation having convex warpage can be controlled by changing the strength of the irradiation with the UV rays from the light sources 162 for forced deformation of the optical element 115 as a difference in temperatures of a top surface and an undersurface of the optical element 115 can be adjusted by the change. Further, a desired amount of warpage can be achieved by adjusting the timing and durations of the irradiation of the optical element 115 with the UV rays from the light sources 161 and 162.

Further, the fixed-joining of the optical element 115 can be finished in a short time by intensively irradiating the optical element 115 with the same levels of UV rays from the light sources 162 for forced deformation since the convex warpage can be achieved in a short time.

FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of shifts in amounts of deformation of the optical element 115. In FIG. 6, an x-axis represents an amount of time elapsed after the fixed-joining of the optical element 115 is started while a y-axis represents an amount of lens deformation of the optical element 115. A period F represents a period of time over which the optical element 115 is deformed to have convex warpage by being irradiated with the UV rays emitted from the light sources 162 for forced deformation. As shown in FIG. 6, because the optical element 115 is fixedly joined to the selected one of the housing 111 or the optical element 115 a after the optical element 115 has achieved the convex warpage in the period F, concave warpage due to curing and contraction of the adhesive agent 140 can be reduced. Therefore, the amount of deformation before and after the fixed-joining of the optical element 115 can be reduced. As a result, the optical element 115 has less deformation and mounting posture, thereby maintaining a good optical property.

Although the optical element 115 is forcibly deformed by using heat radiated by the irradiation with the UV rays emitted from the light sources 162 in the embodiment of the present invention, the optical element 115 may be physically deformed by using a pressurizing member instead.

Although UV light sources for emitting UV rays are used as the light source 161 for curing the adhesive agent 140 and the light sources 162 for forced deformation of the optical element 115 in the embodiment, the light sources are not limited to UV light sources. Further, a heat source is not limited to light, and a heating element capable of locally applying heat may be used.

The optical element 115 is preferably formed of a plastic material so that the convex warpage can be achieved in a short time (several seconds), and the fixed-joining of the optical element 115 can be finished in a short time.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a general configuration of an apparatus for fixedly joining the optical element 115 to the selected one of the housing 111 or the optical element 115 a according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, an apparatus 1 for fixedly joining includes an irradiation controller 2 and the light source unit 160. The light source unit 160 includes the light source 161 for curing the adhesive agent 140 and the light sources 162 for forced deforming the optical element 115. The irradiation controller 2 controls the irradiation of the optical element 115 with the UV rays from the light sources 161 and 162. By using the apparatus 1 having the configuration shown in FIG. 7, the fixed-joining of the optical element 115 according to the embodiment can be performed with high accuracy in a short time.

Next, a general configuration of the optical scanning apparatus having the optical element 115 fixedly joined according to the embodiment of the present invention is described below referring to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a top view of an optical scanning apparatus 10. FIG. 9 is a side view of the optical scanning apparatus 10. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the optical scanning apparatus 10 includes a laser light source 12, a cylindrical lens 13, a polygon scanner unit 14, a reflex mirror 16, a polygon mirror 17, photoconductors 20, reflecting mirrors 21, the housing 111, and the optical element 115.

The housing 111 serves as a platform of the optical scanning apparatus 10, and is formed of a resin material. The laser light source 12 includes a selected one of a single semiconductor and a plurality of semiconductors, and emits laser light to irradiate the photoconductors 20 disposed outside the optical scanning apparatus 10 to form electrostatic latent images thereon. The cylindrical lens 13 formats the laser light emitted from the laser light source 12. The polygon scanner unit 14 is a polariscope to polarize the formatted laser light at a constant angular velocity. The optical element 115 is, for example, an imaging lens such as an fθ lens to perform an imaging and a constant velocity scanning with the laser light polarized by the polygon scanner unit 14. The reflex mirror 16 reflects the laser light to be guided to the photoconductors 20 disposed outside the optical scanning apparatus 10.

In the optical scanning apparatus 10 according to the embodiment, the laser light emitted from the laser light source 12 is gathered into the polygon scanner unit 14. The laser light is polarized by the polygon mirror 17 provided in the polygon scanner unit 14 into a main scanning direction at the constant angular velocity. The polarized laser light is impinged on the photoconductors 20 via the optical elements 115 overlaid in the same position, the reflex mirrors 16, the reflecting mirrors 21, and so forth, to write images thereon.

A configuration of the optical scanning apparatus 10 is not limited to the configuration described above referring to FIGS. 8 and 9. Another configuration of the optical scanning apparatus having the optical element 115 fixedly joined according to the embodiment of the present invention is described below referring to FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 10 is a top view of an optical scanning apparatus 10 a having a configuration for color image forming using a plurality of toner images in respective colors. FIG. 11 is a side view of the optical scanning apparatus 10 a shown in FIG. 10.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the optical scanning apparatus 10 a includes a plurality of laser light sources 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, and 12 d, a plurality of cylindrical lens 13 a, 13 b, 13 c, and 13 d, and a plurality of photoconductors 20 a, 20 b, 20 c, and 20 d. The optical scanning apparatus 10 a further includes the polygon scanner unit 14, the reflex mirrors 16, the polygon mirror 17, the reflecting mirrors 21, the housing 111, and the optical elements 115, corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The plurality of laser sources 12 a to 12 d emit laser light to form electrostatic latent images for respective colors on corresponding ones of the plurality of photoconductors 20 a to 20 d. The cylindrical lenses 13 a to 13 d are provided for the laser light sources 12 a to 12 d, respectively. The laser light emitted from the laser sources 12 a to 12 d is polarized by the polygon scanner unit 14. The polarized laser light is impinged on the photoconductors 20 a to 20 d via the overlaid optical elements 115 arranged at positions opposed to the polygon scanner unit 14 so as to correspond to respective laser light sources 12 a to 12 d, the reflex mirrors 16, the reflecting mirrors 21, and so forth, to write images thereon.

Next, an image forming apparatus including the optical scanning apparatus having the optical element fixedly joined according to the embodiment of the present invention is described below referring to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a general configuration of an image forming apparatus 80 including the optical scanning apparatus 10 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 12, the image forming apparatus 80 includes the optical scanning apparatus 10, an exposure glass 81, a reading device 82, a development unit 84, a photoconductor 85, a fixing unit 86, sheet discharging rollers 87, a sheet discharging tray 88, a sheet feeding tray 89, and sheet feeding rollers 90.

The reading device 82 reads image data from an original placed on the exposure glass 81, and sends an image signal representing the read image data to the optical scanning apparatus 10. The optical scanning apparatus 10 emits laser light for writing according to the image signal to irradiate the photoconductor 85 therewith so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 85. The development unit 84 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 85 into a toner image. The toner image is transferred onto a sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding tray 89 by the sheet feeding rollers 90. The fixing unit 86 applies heat to the sheet to fix the transferred toner image on the sheet. The sheet having the fixed toner image is discharged into the sheet discharging tray 88 via the sheet discharging rollers 87.

The image forming apparatus 80 may include the optical scanning apparatus 10 a instead of the optical scanning apparatus 10 with another configuration corresponding to the optical scanning apparatus 10 a.

Since the image forming apparatus includes the optical element 115 which has a small amount of deformation because the optical element 115 has been fixedly joined by the method of fixedly joining according to the embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus 80 can perform excellent optical scanning by maintaining a good optical property. As a result, the image forming apparatus 80 is capable of forming an image having intended image quality.

Numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure of this patent specification may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

This patent specification is based on a Japanese patent application, No. JP2005-034806 filed on Feb. 10, 2005 in the Japan Patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 

1. An optical element, comprising: a light incident surface having a flat shape; a light exit surface having a convex shape; a first side surface expanded in a troffer-like-round shape between the light incident surface and the light exit surface and substantially perpendicular to the light incident surface and the light exit surface; a second side surface opposite and in parallel to the first side surface; and a plurality of reference members formed in a cylinder-like shape with a flat top on the first side surface.
 2. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of reference members include at least three reference members arranged at triangular positions to evenly support a weight of the optical element.
 3. The optical element according to claim 2, wherein the optical element include a plastic resin.
 4. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the first side surface includes at least three positions evenly arranged in a center region of the first side surface to be fixed with an adhesive agent. 5-18. (canceled)
 19. An apparatus for fixedly joining an optical element which includes a plurality of reference members formed on a first side surface perpendicular to a light incident surface, the apparatus comprising: an application mechanism configured to apply an adhesive agent to a predetermined spot within a specific position of a surface on which the optical element is placed; a placement mechanism configured to place the optical element with the first side surface facing down into the specific position of the surface; a first light source configured to cause the optical element placed in the specific position to have convex warpage relative to the surface; and a second light source configured to cure the adhesive agent.
 20. The apparatus for fixedly joining the optical element according to claim 19, wherein an amount of convex warpage of the optical element is controlled by a duration of emitting light from the first light source.
 21. The apparatus for fixedly joining the optical element according to claim 19, wherein an amount of convex warpage of the optical element is controlled by an intensity of light emitted from the first light source.
 22. An optical scanning apparatus, comprising: an optical element including: a light incident surface having a flat shape; a light exit surface having a convex shape; a first side surface expanded in a troffer-like-round shape between the light incident surface and the light exit surface and substantially perpendicular to the light incident surface and the light exit surface; a second side surface opposite and in parallel to the first side surface; and a plurality of reference members formed in a cylinder-like shape with a flat top on the first side surface.
 23. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an optical scanning apparatus having an optical element including: a light incident surface having a flat shape; a light exit surface having a convex shape; a first side surface expanded in a troffer-like-round shape between the light incident surface and the light exit surface and substantially perpendicular to the light incident surface and the light exit surface; a second side surface opposite and in parallel to the first side surface; and a plurality of reference members formed in a cylinder-like shape with a flat top on the first side surface. 